# Need songs about life on the road **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 24, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808 "2009-06-24T06:33:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/1 "2009-06-24T06:33:58Z")
I’m filling in for the host of a two-hour singer-songwriter program on a local radio station in mid-July. I do this a couple of times a year and always do a theme show. My theme this time out is “On the Road Again.” I’d like it to be about the trials and tribulations of touring musicians, and could use some suggestions. If I can’t find enough about touring, it’s easy enough to fill with other road trip songs, but it would be nice to keep to the original more specific theme. The show is focused on singer-songwriters, but I’ve got a lot of latitude. I can use groups if one or more members of the group wrote the song. I can use material in the general roots music category: folk, country, alt-country, rock, blues, bluegrass, etc. Haven’t got a lot so far: Turn the Page - Bob Seger Good Road - Heidi Mulier Road To Long - Staid Cleves Three Down - The Waifs Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel 40 Miles to Vegas - Southern Culture on the Skids On the Road Again - Willie Nelson On the Road Again - Canned Heat Down the Road - Spencer Bohren Everybody Goin’ on the Road - Hoyt Axton I know there are more out there and if anyplace has the goods, the Dope does. Thanks! Hometownboy ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/2 "2009-06-24T06:38:52Z")
The Kinks: [The Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0FQ9jVL1Ho) (not to be confused with [Life On the Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s2XO7ViWkk), which might also work) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/3 "2009-06-24T06:42:02Z")
Actually, here’s an [earlier thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=407184) with some ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/4 "2009-06-24T07:25:46Z")
Jackson Brown - _the Load-out/Stay_ _Running on Empty_, title track, same album as above song. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/5 "2009-06-24T07:56:43Z")
How about Billy Bragg’s ‘A13’ Trunk Road to the Sea? Joni Mitchell’s ‘This Flight Tonight’ and Rufus Wainwhright’s ‘Oh What A World’ are about touring, but not specifically ‘roads’. MiM ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/6 "2009-06-24T09:12:34Z")
It’s somewhat subtle, but “Wishing You Were Here” by Chicago (written by Peter Cetera) is about being a musician on the road. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/7 "2009-06-24T11:46:15Z")
James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/8 "2009-06-24T12:13:55Z")
Rush - Making Memories and Fly By Night, from the album Fly By Night. There’s also Limelight, from the album Moving Pictures, but that’s more about being on stage than being on the road. If you run out of time and need general road trip songs, Rush also has Red Barchetta, Dreamline, Ghost Rider, and Workin’ Them Angels. I think you should definitely use Making Memories. [Here’s](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rush/makingmemories.html) a link to the lyrics. Journey - Faithfully Greatful Dead - Truckin’ ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/9 "2009-06-24T12:18:00Z")
Come Monday - Jimmy Buffett ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/10 "2009-06-24T12:19:55Z")
Arlo Guthrie “City of New Orleans” ---
**Author:** ![mj\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@mj\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mj_2)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/11 "2009-06-24T12:22:02Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Jackson Brown - _the Load-out/Stay_ > > _Running on Empty_, title track, same album as above song. Just put this album on and come back in 45 minutes. BTW - Rosie is my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/12 "2009-06-24T12:23:56Z")
Lodi, by Creedence Clearwater Revival, is a pretty good song on the topic. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/13 "2009-06-24T12:55:04Z")
_What’s Your Name_ - Lynyrd Skynyrd ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/14 "2009-06-24T12:59:37Z")
“The End is Not in Sight” by the Amazing Rhythm Aces. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/15 "2009-06-24T13:00:29Z")
Gentle Giant: Another Show Creedence Clearwater Revival: Traveling Band Jethro Tull: Rocks on the Road ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/16 "2009-06-24T13:00:39Z")
Bill Morrissey and Greg Brown: [“The Road”](http://www.amazon.com/Friend-Mine-Bill-Morrissey-Brown/dp/B0000003U6) Cheryl Wheeler: [“Rainy Road into Atlanta”](http://www.amazon.com/Sylvia-Hotel-Cheryl-Wheeler/dp/B00000HXE0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1245848251&sr=1-5) Nanci Griffith: [“The Wing and the Wheel”](http://www.amazon.com/Fair-Summer-Evening-Nanci-Griffith/dp/B000002PID/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1245848405&sr=1-5) ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/17 "2009-06-24T13:43:25Z")
Bon Jovi: [Dead or Alive](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/bon+jovi/wanted+dead+or+alive_20022260.html) Bad Co: [Shooting Star](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Shooting-Star-lyrics-Bad-Company/CE91E9E883C858FC48256C99000DCBDA) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/18 "2009-06-24T13:47:06Z")
Grand Funk RR - We’re an American Band ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/19 "2009-06-24T13:57:29Z")
Wilco - “Far, Far Away” Barenaked Ladies - “Petersborough & the Kawarthas” Both songs about missing the people back home while on the road touring. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808/20 "2009-06-24T14:04:57Z")
[18 Wheels on a Big Rig](http://www.mp3lyrics.org/t/trout-fishing-in-america/18-wheels-on-a-big-rig/) by Heywood Banks/Trout Fishing in America [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-songs-about-life-on-the-road/500808.md?page=2)